When employees shifted to a remote work environment at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many predicted that harassment claims would dramatically reduce or the problem would disappear altogether.

However, video conferencing applications and a shift toward online interaction allowed offensive acts to occur. Instead of a reduction in employee complaints of harassment, there has been an increase.

This essential guide presents the critical issues that have come into focus during the remote work era, including:

• Decline in face-to-face interaction
• Unwelcome behavior via online channels
• An increase in men experiencing unwelcome behavior
• Increased visibility into personal space
• An increase in awkward incidents and/or willingness to share personal details over video meetings or conference calls
• Employees treat the virtual environment like the “Wild Wild West”
• Reduced Potential for Micro-Aggressive Behaviors